Halibut Fishing

Curious about the fishing conditions around The Yakutat Lodge? Wonder no more.

Sockeye reached 66,000 over the weir, and the King count is almost at 600 large. Even though the Sockeye season is coming to a close, the Pink Salmon have started to their march up river in big numbers. 11,000 Pinks over the weir so far, and many more to come over the next month.
Halibut and Coho fishing in the bay has been spectacular, with limits of both being obtained by Noon on a daily basis,(Coho limits are 6 per person in the Ocean). Coho will be arriving in the river system in the next couple weeks, and by mid-August, the river should be full of Pink and Coho Salmon.

Alaska takes sustainability very seriously. It is one of the most monitored states in all of America when it comes to its fisheries. This is crucial to the survival of the industry. To better understand how Alaska monitors the industry, whose responsibility this is and how to make sure you are following the guidelines head to the Alaska Seafood site. I have referenced much of the material on the site for this article, with the goal of raising awareness and educating the importance of sustainability.

If you’re like most people, you know Alaska for its snow-covered mountains, glaciers that date back millions of years, and the incredible green beauty in the summertime. But the state is also a world model for sustainability—and maybe for governmental genius, too. That’s because Alaska is the only state with a mandate for sustainable seafood written right into its State Constitution.

Alaska offers four types of fishing. Sportfishing is open to anyone in virtually all of Alaska, while commercial, subsistence, and personal use fishing are limited to certain areas, certain types of gear, or just to Alaska residents. But Alaska provides the United States and the world with more then just fish.

There are many types of seafood that come from Alaska. There are five species of salmon; king, sockeye, coho, keta and pink. There is also a variety of whitefish that are caught there such as; halibut, black cod, Alaska Pollock, cod, sole and surimi seafood. Alaska is also a supplier of various types of crab seafood including; king, snow and Dungeness crab, Alaska Weathervane scallops and spot prawns.

All told, Alaska supplies more than half of the wild-caught seafood in the United States. And Alaska will always be home to the greatest salmon runs in the world, providing as much as 95 percent of North America’s wild salmon.

With so many What is sustainable seafood? It’s seafood that’s managed and fished using practices that ensure there will always be more to catch in the future.

The secret to Alaska’s success lies in two basic principles: Responsible fisheries management and sustainable fishing practices take care not to harm the fish, other marine plants and animals, nor the environment. n Fish populations are never overfished. Overfishing happens when too many fish are taken from the sea and there are not enough fish left to replenish the natural population.

But how does Alaska make sure the environment stays that way? Start with the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). More than 40 MPAs, covering hundreds of thousands of square miles have been established in the waters off Alaska to safeguard this sensitive habitat from human activity. This protects more than the wild-caught seafood you enjoy. Whales, sea lions, otters and birds are also ensured safe, clean habitats. Alaska also follows a number of governmental protection acts, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act, and the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation Act.

Being sustainable is not just a matter of following the science. It’s a large-scale commitment to responsible fisheries management and a strong governing system.

In Alaska, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (along with several other organizations at the state, federal and international level) work together to set sustainable fishery management methods that uphold Alaska’s high standards.

The Yakutat Lodge is proud to following all regulations provided by the governing agencies. We respect and appreciate the beauty and resources that Alaska has to offer. We appreciate that we have access to some of the few remaining untouched and pristine nature reserves in all of the U.S. We are happy to answer any questions you might have in regards to planning your next trip to Yakutat. For more information head to our website www.yakutatlodge.com, email us at info@yakutatlodge.com or call us direct at 1-800-YAKUTAT. We look forward to hearing from you and introducing you to the area, no matter what your tastes are.

For more information about keeping Alaska Sustainable head to http://www.alaskaseafood.org/

Over 37,000 sockeye over the weir and the river is boiling in certain areas. The confluence of the old and new Situk is stuffed to the rim with Sockeye. Fishing is extremely good also below the weir, where the ocean fresh Sockeye is pouring in on every incoming tide.

The fish at the confluence are starting to show their brilliant red sides and green heads, but they still have all the energy to give a great fight and challenge even the most experienced fisherman to land them. July is shaping up to be a great month for fishing the Situk River.

On the saltwater side of things, the Halibut in the Ocean is really good now, and the Kings in the Bay are still on the bite and running at respectable sizes.

There is a variety of species to be caught when on board one of our ocean going “Happy Hooker” fleet. Species include king salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, ling cod, rockfish and halibut. The availability of these fish varies according to the time or year. As you can see in the chart above, the best time for

As you can see in the chart above, the best time for king salmon is March through July, with some noted in the later of the year. If you are aiming to catch coho salmon planning a trip between June and October will have the most likely chance of you bringing one in for dinner. Pink salmon and Ling cod have a fairly short season ranging from June to August, you will want to be quite specific with your plans during that time to catch some pinkies. The hideous rockfish are more frequent during the year being available from April to September. And last but definitely not least sir Halibut biting on rods from March until October.

Our recently in 2017 updated “Hooker Fleet” consists of the Happy Hookers III, IV and Madam Hooker. Our “Hooker” fleet has caught the most fish in all of Alaska. It’s quite common to land fish over 100 pounds and once again, our guest have landed fish over 270 lbs in the last year.

The ocean boats are equipped with new fishing equipment and lead by our top-notch professional skippers to ensure your safety as well as an opportunity to experience the highest quality saltwater fishing available. Upon your return, your catch is filleted, packaged and vacuum packed, and frozen for you right at The Yakutat Lodge’s our own dock and commercial fish cleaning facility.

The Ocean fishing is simply among the best in Alaska. The Yakutat Bay and surrounding waters and spectacular mountains complemented by the world’s largest glaciers provide an arena of incredible beauty where mere words couldn’t do it justice. It is so much more then just a fishing trip, it is an experience of a lifetime that will keep you coming back year after year.

For more information or to book your next trip to join the Alaskan Fishing Team call 1-800-YAKUTAT or (907) 784-3232. You can also e-mail us at fish@yakutatlodge.com any questions.

The Yakutat Lodge was owned and operated by Ken Fanning from 1980 to 2016 and is now under new ownership. The Fanning family established one of the finest fishing experiences found anywhere in the world. We are pleased to announce that the lodge is in good hands with the new owner, Dr. Donald Stamper a longtime patron. He and his family decided to purchase the lodge to keep this fishing experience alive. The new General Manager, Tim Burke, is a longtime friend of the family. His goal is to make this fishing experience one to remember.

Since arriving at the lodge, our first order of business was to ask ourselves “what can we do to improve your fishing experience and what can we do to improve your time here in Yakutat, Alaska?”

We know you’re coming to Yakutat to fish and that is our number one priority. Because of this, we sent all of our Halibut boats to Juneau to be refurbished with new interiors, new rigging and new motors. Our vision is to provide the best equipment and guides in the business.

When your not fishing, the comfort of your trip is important to us. So recently we obtained brand new Serta Perfect Sleepers to make your nights as enjoyable as your days. Coming this season, we will introduce a new kitchen complete with a new menu including delicious healthy choice options.

We believe it’s the little things we can improve on, like the fishing rod and reel you have in your hand and the towel in your hotel room. We hope that you will continue this tradition by choosing Yakutat as your fishing destination year after year and generation after generation.

Sincerely,

Scott Stamper V. P. Business Development

Stamper Family L.L.C.

If you have any questions you can visit our website www.yakutatlodge.com or contact the lodge directly by phone at 1-800-YAKUTAT (1-800-925-8828) or email info@yakutatlodge.com.

The Yakutat Lodge is sponsoring the Sportsman’s News Outdoor Writing Contest in 2017. Contestants will be submitting publications throughout 2017 for the chance to win a five-night guided fishing excursion at the newly updated Yakutat Lodge in Alaska. The winner will be joining a team from Sportsmen’s News for an all-expense paid experience of a lifetime.

The Yakutat Lodge looks forward to reading and featuring monthly publications of each finalist on their social media streams. We are complete supporters of sharing the different scopes of outdoor adventure and experience.

RULES AND HOW TO ENTER

Grand Prize Package
• One lucky winner will be chosen to join the Sportsman’s News Team on a 5 night and 4 full guide days, plus 2, ½ days guided fishing trips for Steelhead at The Yakutat Lodge in Yakutat, Alaska. The trip will take place during the summer of 2018 and with prime fishing dates. The winner will be responsible for airfare to and from Alaska as well as lodging and meals while en route.
• Contest will run from January 1st, 2017 through December 31, 2017, with up to 2 stories selected each month and published in the Sportsman’s News printed and/or digital publication. One grand prize winner will be selected from those whose stories have been published during the contest period. The winner is randomly selected through a drawing basis and will be notified via e-mail.
• Every published entry will receive a knife from Outdoor Edge and will be entered into the grand prize drawing.
• E-mail stories and photos to info@sportsmansnews.com.
• Stories should be between 900 and 1500 words and be sent as an MS Word document or pasted into an e-mail.
• Photos should be high-resolution JPG’s, TIF’s or PDF’s: if you have any questions regarding photos call (435)865-1680.
• Stories without photos will not be considered for publication or contest entry.
All stories may be edited for content and size. Published articles and photos become property of Sportsman’s News. All prizes are provided by Sportsman’s News Inc. Must be 18 years of age to win the grand prize.
All entries must include author name, address and phone number to be considered for publication. Sportsman’s News will not confirm receipt of entries.